U.S. patent number 5,904,263 [Application Number 08/978,017] was granted by the patent office on 1999-05-18 for multi-container package with individually removable containers.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kraft Canada Inc.. Invention is credited to Kevin J. Gosling, Dane T. St. Pierre.
United States Patent |
5,904,263 |
St. Pierre , et al. |
May 18, 1999 |
Multi-container package with individually removable containers
Abstract
A multi-container package includes several individually sealed
containers which are easily separable from one another by weakened
zones between adjacent containers. Each container includes a tab
portion over which the peel tab of the lid extends. Dimples in
either the peel tab or tab portion facilitate their separation.
Several multi-container packages are manufactured as a unit using a
die and conventional heat sealing processes, and then are separated
from one another by transverse cuts.
Inventors: |
St. Pierre; Dane T. (Cornwall,
CA), Gosling; Kevin J. (Longsault, CA) |
Assignee: |
Kraft Canada Inc. (Don Mills,
CA)
|
Family
ID: |
25525735 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/978,017 |
Filed: |
November 25, 1997 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/23.4;
220/359.2; 220/359.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
1/30 (20130101); B65D 2203/00 (20130101); B65D
2577/2066 (20130101); B65D 85/76 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
1/22 (20060101); B65D 1/30 (20060101); B65D
85/72 (20060101); B65D 77/20 (20060101); B65D
77/10 (20060101); B65D 85/76 (20060101); B65D
021/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/23.4,359.2,359.4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cronin; Stephen K.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Marcoux; Thomas A. Savoie; Thomas
R.
Claims
We claim:
1. A multi-container package comprising at least two containers,
each of said containers comprising:
a receptacle having a closed bottom, side walls, and an open top,
and a frame extending completely around the top of each of said
receptacles and connected to upper edges of said side walls, said
frame including tab portions extending outwardly from at least one
side wall of each said receptacles, said frame including weakened
zones between adjacent receptacles; and
a removable package lid sealed to said frame around respective open
tops of each of said receptacles, said package lid being separable
into individual lids each sealing a respective one of said
receptacles, said package lid having weakened zones at points
corresponding to said weakened zones in said frame, each of said
individual lids including a peel tab covering one of said
respective tab portions on said frame, each container having
dimples positioned on one of said tab portions and said peel
tabs,
whereby a single, sealed container including a receptacle and its
individual lid is removable from the package.
2. The package according to claim 1 wherein said package lid is
heat sealed to said frame.
3. The package according to claim 1 wherein said package comprises
flexible materials.
4. The package according to claim 1 wherein said package comprises
transparent materials.
5. The package according to claim 1 wherein said weakened zones
comprises perforations.
6. The package according to claim 1 wherein said frame and said
receptacle are constructed from a single material piece.
7. The package according to claim 1 wherein said containers have a
rectangular shape.
8. The package according to claim 7 comprising a single row of at
least three containers attached along adjacent sides such that said
package has a rectangular shape.
9. The package according to claim 8 wherein said tab portions
extend outwardly along one side of said package.
10. A multi-container package comprising:
at least three containers, each of said containers comprising:
a rectangular-shaped receptacle with an open top and a frame
extending completely around the open top of each of said
receptacles, said frame including tab portions extending outwardly
from at least one side wall of each of said receptacles, said frame
including weakened zones between adjacent containers; and
a removable lid having labeling information printed thereon, said
lid being sealed to said frame around respective open tops of each
of said receptacles, said lid being formed as a substantially flat
surface and having weakened zones at points corresponding to said
weakened zones in said frame including peel tabs covering
respective tab portions on said frame, each container having
dimples positioned on one of said tab portions and said peel
tabs,
whereby a single, sealed container, including its receptacle and
lid, is removable from the package.
11. The package according to claim 10, including first labeling
information relating to the contents of the entire package and
further labeling information on and applicable to each individual
container.
12. The package according to claim 10 comprising five containers.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a multi-container package wherein
each of the containers is individually sealed and removable from
the remainder of the package in the sealed condition, and a method
of manufacture therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In general, the cost of purchasing a food item packaged in bulk
tends to be much less expensive in terms of price per unit weight
than the cost of purchasing a small quantity of the same food item,
such as a single serving size. Further, a new industry trend is the
discount food chain which offers food items sold only in bulk
quantities, but at an even lower cost than that offered in
conventional grocery stores.
Many of the food items which are sold in bulk quantities have a
prolonged shelf life of several months if they are kept in a sealed
container. However, once the container is opened, such items may
spoil after one week or less. Thus, although the purchase of food
items in bulk quantities provides a financial benefit to larger
households, schools, small restaurants and the like, individuals,
or households with only a few members are unable to derive any
benefit from the lower cost since the food item, once opened, may
spoil before the purchaser is able to finish the entire
package/container. Such spoilage could be avoided if the bulk
quantity of the food item were separated into smaller serving sizes
which were each individually sealed.
One example of a package which includes several separately sealed
sections is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,856 to Hustad et al.
Another example of a food package containing multiple compartments
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,999 to Morton. The Morton
package is designed to hold individual quantities of frozen orange
juice, which may be individually separated from the remainder of
the package. However, neither the Hustad et al nor the Morton
multi-container packages are designed to retain a tight seal, yet
allow easy opening when desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide a new and
improved multi-container package in which the containers are
individually separable, remain tightly sealed until opened and
include a means for easy opening when desired. This purpose is
achieved by providing a package including at least two containers.
Each of the containers includes a receptacle having a closed
bottom, side walls and an open top. The receptacles are joined
together by a frame extending completely around their upper
perimeters. A removable lid is sealed to the frame around the tops
of each of the receptacles. The removable lid and frame include
corresponding weakened zones between adjacent containers for ease
of separation of individual, sealed containers from the package.
The frame includes tab portions extending outwardly from each of
the containers. Peel tabs on the lid correspond to each of the tab
portions. Only the peel tabs and tab portions must be grasped to
open the individual containers, thereby reducing the chances of
deformation to the container and its contents.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, dimples
are positioned on either the tab portions or on the peel tabs for
ease in separating the peel tabs from the tab portions. Preferably,
the package consists of a single row of several containers attached
along adjacent sides, both the containers and package having a
rectangular shape. Further, the package is preferably constructed
from flexible, transparent materials.
It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide a method
of manufacturing a multi-container package. According to the
method, a film is placed over a bottom die having pockets therein,
the film being shaped in the same form as the pockets by heating
and applying a vacuum to form receptacles. A product is then added
to the receptacles, and a top film is placed over the receptacles.
The resultant containers are then evacuated and the top film is
heat sealed to the bottom film, the top film thereby forming a lid
for the containers. A weakened zone between the containers is
created by perforations, scoring, or the like such that individual
containers are easily separated from the multi-container package.
Preferably, several rows of containers are formed in the process,
and then each of the rows separated from an adjacent row by
transverse cuts in the top and bottom films.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an
improved multi-container package wherein individual containers are
easily removed from the package, both a single removed container
and the remainder of the package remaining sealed.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a
multi-container package wherein the individual containers are
easily opened by means of a lid having a peel tab which is easily
grasped and pulled away from the container to expose the contents
thereof.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method of
manufacturing a multi-container package wherein the size of the
individual containers is easily adjusted.
These and other objects of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description to follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
There follows a detailed description of the preferred embodiments
of the invention which are to be taken together with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-container package according
to the invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an individual container after
removal from the package, the container being partially opened;
FIG. 3 is a top view of a die used to form several multi-container
packages in accordance with the invention; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1 with a lid including
labeling information.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the figures, like elements are represented by like
numerals throughout the several views.
FIG. 1 shows a multi-container package 1 including five individual
containers 2. As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, each individual
container 2 includes a receptacle 3 having a closed bottom 4', side
walls 4 and an open top 5. A frame 6 extends completely around the
top perimeter of each of the individual receptacles 3 and is
connected to the upper edges of the side walls 4. The frame 6
includes tab portions 7 which extend outwardly from at least one
side wall of each of the receptacles 3. The tab portion 7 may
extend outwardly from any of the side walls 4 of the receptacles 3,
the purpose of tab portion 7 being described in greater detail
below.
Referring to both FIGS. 1 and 2, a removable lid 8 is sealed to the
frame 6 at areas 18 around the open tops 5 of each of the
receptacles 3 to thereby completely seal each of the receptacles 3
to form individual containers 2. The lid 8 includes a peel tab 9.
Upon removal of a container 2 from the multi-container package 1,
as shown in FIG. 2, the peel tab 9a of the individual container 2
is easily separated from the frame 7 so that the lid 8a of the
individual container 2 may be pulled away from the container 2 to
expose the contents thereof. To even further facilitate separation
of the peel tab 9a from the tab portion 7, dimples 10, in the form
of raised notches, are positioned on the tab portion 7 so that the
peel tab 9a and tab portion 7 always remain slightly separated and
do not stick together. Although two dimples 10 per container 2 are
shown, there may be any number of dimples utilized and, further,
the dimples 10 may be positioned on the peel tab 9, rather than on
the tab portion 7. The tab portion 7 is useful in that it provides
an area for a user to grasp with one hand, while pulling the peel
tab 9a with the other hand. Thus, the user need not grasp the side
walls 4, potentially causing both the container 2 and contents
thereof to be deformed.
The multi-container package 1 is preferably constructed from
transparent materials to allow the contents to be viewed by the
purchaser. Further, the multi-container package 1 is preferably
constructed of relatively flexible materials. The individual
containers 2 are separable from the remainder of the package 1 by
weakened zones 11 located in the areas between adjacent containers
2. In general, these weakened zones 11 are formed by creating
perforations, or score lines in the frame 6 and lid 8, thereby
allowing the individual containers 2 to be easily separated from
the remainder of the package 1 without damaging the seal extending
around the frames of the individual containers 2.
The individual containers 2 preferably have a rectangular shape,
although they may be constructed in various other shapes. For
example, the multi-compartment container 1 could have a circular
shape, with the individual containers being pie-shaped.
In the preferred method of manufacture, a die 12, shown in FIG. 3,
having multiple pockets 13 is used to form the containers 2. A
bottom film, preferably constructed of a flexible, but sturdy
transparent material such as a co-extruded Nylon/Surlyn material,
is heated to about 90.degree. C..+-.5.degree. C., depending on
production rate, over the die 12. Air is used to blow down the
bottom film which then takes the shape of pockets 13. Preferably,
the shape of pockets 13 is rectangular as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.
Each pocket 13 forms the side walls 4 and an enclosed bottom 4',
i.e., the receptacle 3 and areas 14 of the die 12 form the frame 6,
such that each receptacle 3 and surrounding frame 6 are constructed
from the same piece of material. Areas 15 are used to form tab
portions 7 which are also part of the same piece of material.
After the bottom film is shaped to form the receptacle 3, frame 6
and tab portions 7, a product is placed in each of the individual
receptacles 3. A top film is then placed over the die 12 to cover
pockets 13 and outer areas 14,15. The top film should be slightly
narrower than a length "a" of a row of pockets 13. The top film is
preferably constructed from a Polyester/easy peel Surlyn material.
The top and bottom films are pressed together between the bottom
die 12 and a top die. Each of the containers' atmospheres is then
evacuated and the top film is heat sealed to the bottom film around
the tops of each of the receptacles through the application of
pressure by the top die and bottom die 12, i.e., in areas 14 to
completely seal the contents of each of the containers. The top and
bottom films are not sealed in areas 15, thereby creating the peel
tab 9 of the multi-container package 1. Moreover, it would also be
possible to leave other areas unsealed, such as a section of the
areas between individual containers to create peel tabs on more
than one side. The dimples 10 are formed during the
container-forming process by raised notches 19 in the die 12.
As shown, the die 12 is used to construct three multi-container
packages 1 arranged longitudinally, each including five individual
containers 2 arranged transversely. After the top and bottom films
are sealed, the three individual multi-container packages 1 are
separated by making transverse cuts along dotted lines 16 through
both films. Further, weakened zones, represented by dotted lines
11, are formed between adjacent containers 2 by creating
perforations, or score lines, which extend through the frame 6 and
lid 8 to allow for ease of separation.
The individual containers may have any desired size. Further, the
same die 12 may be used to construct smaller containers by placing
a spacer (not shown) in the base of the pockets 13 prior to
positioning the bottom film over the die 12. Such spacers have a
rectangular shape and fill the bottom of the pockets 13, thereby
simply creating a rectangular shaped container with a shortened
depth.
In one use of the multi-container package of the invention, the
individual containers are designed to hold bars of cheese, each bar
weighing about 100 grams and equaling approximately one cup of
cheese when shredded. Because different cheeses have different
densities, different container sizes may be required. Thus, the
spacers may be used to adjust container size depending on whether
the packaged cheese is Mozzarella, Cheddar, etc. If only a slight
change is required in container size, less heat and air pressure
are applied to the bottom film so that it does not fully mold to
the pockets, and the resultant receptacles 3 are slightly smaller
than the size of the pockets 13. The amount of vacuum needed to
evacuate each of the individual containers 2 should be just
sufficient so that the top film forms a relatively flat lid, i.e.,
to eliminate any washboard effect.
As shown in FIG. 4, the top film may include information regarding
the package contents, etc. printed on it, thereby serving as a
label. In the preferred embodiment, the package 1 is of a size
sufficient to include all necessary labeling information on the lid
8. This is more convenient to the consumer who does not need to
turn the package to read printing on more than one side. The
manufacturing process is also less complex. Such labeling may, for
example, include a section 20 for indicating the product brand and
a general description of the package contents, a section 21
providing nutritional information, and a section 22 for providing
bar-code information. Further, each individual container 2 may
include information which is useful upon removal from the package
1. Such information would include an indication 23 of the weight or
size, e.g., a 1 cup measure, of the container contents.
Although the invention has been described in considerable detail
with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, variations and
modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth
in the claims.
* * * * *